Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant and the Lakers’ Five Toughest Playoff Matchups

Now 9-1 since the All-Star break and trailing the Dallas Mavericks by just a half-game for the No. 2 seed in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to finally be firing on all cylinders.  

With just 15 games remaining, LA probably needs to finish 13-2 to have any chance of beating out Boston for home-court advantage over the East in the Finals.  

It's perfectly reasonable to assume the Lakers can close the season out on that type of run, however, the recent ankle injury to Kobe Bryant could make things much more difficult.  

The Lakers play 11 of their final 15 games at home, so the schedule certainly allows them an opportunity to get to 60 wins.

With the playoffs just one month away, we've decided to take a look at the five toughest matchups the Lakers could be faced with in the postseason.  

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